Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nasya Camacho. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Nasya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share an anecdote or story from your schooling/training that you feel illustrates what the overall experience was like?

At the age of 26, I decided to go back to school, which was something I never thought I would do. I graduated from Hunter College in NYC almost 5 years prior, had taken over 500 hours of various yoga trainings and was a well established yoga teacher in Westchester, NY. I felt pretty comfortable where I was with my work and did not have a particular vision that there was something else I wanted to dabble in.

When 2020 struck, everything became unclear and more than anything, I felt like there was more I could be doing for both myself and my community. Over the years, I became very interested in the health and wellness world, and finding ways to support the mind-body connection from a more holistic approach. This brought me to ArborVitae: School of Traditional Herbalism, a three year clinical herbalism program, where I ended up enrolling in 2020 and graduating as a Clinical Herbalist in 2023.

This school is very near and dear to my heart – it was, and still is, one of the most profound experience of my life. It is truly a School of Life. Throughout the program, we were taught a variety of herbal perspectives from Traditional Chinese Medicine to Ayurveda to Western Herbalism and tissue state diagnostics. We learned how to understand and care for our bodies, our community and the Earth.

The last year of our program, all third year students participate in monthly free student herbal clinics to help develop our clinical skills and provide service to those in need. In the span of 8 months, I worked with over 10 clients from all walks of life, looking to optimize their health and empower themselves. Our goal as students clinicians was to ask good question, listen and create a thorough personalized protocol for each individual to support their needs. As an eager student, ready to graduate and so excited to be immersed in this wonderful world of Earth centered, herbal medicine, I thought the in depth protocols I’d create would facilitate healing.

What I came to realize was the most profound lesson I’d learned in my life — the most healing thing we can do for each other and ourselves is to actively listen. With all my clients, they had felt deeply seen and heard after years of struggling to find answers and feeling disconnected from the systems at play and their own innate wisdom. Within the 90 minutes we shared in conversation, tears were shed, hearts broke up again, ah-ha moments came naturally, and for the first time in a long time, hope was felt.

By actively listening and being fully present for the person in front of me, I could see their healing journey begin. All of the knowledge I learned about plants, tending to the Earth, understanding traditional diagnostics and discovering patterns within the mind + body, brought me to a place within myself that was able to be in full service to my clients and not overly concerned with how to outcome looked. Everyone’s needs are different, there is no one size fits all, and when you choose to listen over just diagnosing, you can create a stronger foundation for a person ready for change.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Nasya! — a clinical herbalist, dedicated yoga teacher + creative Earth lover, working to restore the connection between plants + people.

My journey toward a more holistic lifestyle began during my first year of college. Navigating this new chapter came with its own set of challenges, and I often found myself unsure of where to start. Until one day, I was invited to a yoga class that turned out to be exactly what I needed. It was there I first felt a deep connection to my body, mind, and heart, changing my perspective forever.

That transformative experience led me to become a registered yoga teacher, accumulating over 500 hours of diverse training, 10 years of practice, and nearly a decade of teaching in my community. Yoga was the gateway to the wellness world for me—It taught me the importance of gratitude, resilience, and self-awareness, which led me to herbalism.

While yoga strengthened my body, I faced internal challenges. In my early twenties, I faced severe skin issues, gut imbalances, and the overwhelming weight of anxiety. For a time, I tried to find solutions on my own or leaned on my community, but nothing felt quite right. Everything changed when I discovered ArborVitae: School of Traditional Herbalism. The teachings, supportive community, and ancient wisdom of plant medicine completely transformed my life.

Herbalism is a powerful practice that links us to the Earth’s healing magic, helping us reconnect with our true selves. The three-year clinical program at ArborVitae has profoundly influenced my approach to healing, and I’m honored to share this rich lineage of wisdom.

After graduating, I created my own practice, Solidago Wellness. Solidago in latin means “to heal” or “to make whole”. To be in balance, to be in health, is to remember that you are whole. Everything you need is within you — when we lean on plants for support, it is not to make that plant the savior or to find something outside of yourself that will solve all your problems. Plants remind us of our wholeness and encourage us to engage with the qualities we already hold to come back into balance through action, attention and thoughtfulness. They are our mirrors, and in their resilient existence we understand what is means to be alive in ours.

In my practice, I offer personalized 1:1 herbal consultations, both in-person and online. Through thoughtful conversation, traditional diagnostic techniques, and a thorough exploration of your medical history, we uncover patterns of disharmony and create a customized plan to support your unique health goals and overall well-being.

Although I work with clients with many different needs, I find myself particularly drawn to the gut-mind axis. This crucial relationship in the body is often overlooked, yet it plays an essential role in overall health. Many people struggle with mental health issues that can be addressed by exploring the gut terrain, our relationship with food and the environment, and finding ways to better support digestion—especially in relation to mental processes.

I also teach a full schedule of yoga classes across Westchester, NY, including Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Yin yoga. Additionally, I offer private yoga sessions that integrate yoga and breathwork, helping you deepen your connection to your body. These individualized sessions focus on building strength, enhancing body awareness, and releasing tension, providing a space to explore yoga’s traditions and cultivate strength from the inside out.

Lastly, a huge part of my practice — and perhaps what excites me the most — is hosting interactive and educational wellness workshops. I often teach seasonal workshops through an herbal lens, incorporating medicine-making to create a fun and engaging community experience. I also lead yoga workshops that explore both the physical and mental/emotional aspects of yoga. With 10 years of teaching experience and over 500 hours of training, I’ve had the privilege of co-hosting yoga teacher trainings at my local studio, where I share insights on the history of yoga, yoga philosophy, Ayurvedic approaches, and chakra theory.

I’m also thrilled to share that this Fall, I’ll be co-hosting my first yoga retreat in the Western Catskills! This weekend will be filled with yoga, herbal workshops, and opportunities to reconnect with nature, our bodies, and our spirits.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What has helped me build my reputation within my market is my openness in sharing knowledge without expecting anything in return. There’s so much information available, and it can either feel overwhelming or seem to lead you in a particular direction. I feel incredibly fortunate to have learned what I have in life, and I believe in sharing that knowledge freely, whether it’s through direct questions or simply passing on what I’ve learned. To me, this is how we keep these traditions alive. I’m also comfortable admitting when I don’t have all the answers, and I encourage my students and clients to explore and find their own truths with the guidance of trusted sources and self-education. Over the years, many have thanked me for small insights shared during classes, conversations, or even casual encounters, which sparked their own journey toward self-discovery and education.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the final year of my clinical herbalism program, I was unexpectedly laid off from my job as a marketing manager for an herbal supplement company. It was a jarring experience, especially as I was balancing clinicals, paying for my program, and trying to make ends meet. At first, I felt the pressure to find another job to survive. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t the path I wanted to take. I was fully committed to completing my program with focus and dedication, and I realized that starting a new job would only pull me away from my goals.

So, I took a leap of faith and launched the first iteration of Solidago Wellness. I picked up more yoga classes at my local studio, dedicated all my free time to deepening my knowledge of herbalism, and worked tirelessly to develop meaningful protocols for my school clinic. I also began creating and selling my own herbal products—small-batch oils, tinctures, teas, and salves—at local markets. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and soon after graduation, people were reaching out to work with me 1:1.

I had no idea where that simple belief in myself would take me, but I trusted that by creating something I was passionate about and proud of, I could make a real difference in people’s lives. Today, I still have clients asking for the herbal products I make in small batches, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people who have supported Solidago’s growth, opening up spaces for me to teach, share my medicine, and build a community.

You truly never know how far you can go until you take that first step.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.solidagowellness.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solidagowellness/
• Other: personal instagram account with more lifestyle shares: https://www.instagram.com/nnnayj
  google profile with 5 star reviews: https://g.co/kgs/YX3imtx

Image Credits

Laura Ciriaco for image in white dress and two making medicine in denim jumpsuit